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Stewart Votes to Protect America’s Security

Apr 18, 2013

Press Release

Contact: Allison.Barker@mail.house.gov

Washington, D.C. – Rep. Chris Stewart (R-Utah) released the following statement after voting in favor of the Cyber Intelligence Sharing and Protection Act (CISPA) that passed the House of Representatives today.

“As a member of the House Committee on Homeland Security, I have been involved in a number of classified and unclassified briefings on the threat of cyber-attacks against Americans. These attacks are designed to steal personal data and trade secrets, shut down computer systems, destroy infrastructure, and otherwise harm American citizens and American companies.

Based on these briefings and conversations with the members of the Utah business community it has become clear to me that businesses and their customers are increasingly vulnerable to these attacks. They want and need the ability to know of the latest threats and to adjust their cyber security systems to protect against those threats. If we don’t act now and protect ourselves, it could lead to a catastrophic event.

Although there were initial concerns with how the bill would protect the personal data of individuals, Chairman Rogers and Ranking Member Ruppersberger have addressed those concerns and have improved the bill as a result. Although there is no perfect solution, this bill does a decent job of allowing companies to learn of and protect against cyber threats while still preserving the core principles of small-government conservatives like me—it doesn’t cost anything, it doesn’t create another government bureaucracy, it addresses privacy concerns, and there are no mandates on companies or individuals.

It’s the fundamental job of the federal government to provide for our common defense. I have a responsibility to my constituents to do everything I can to protect our security and to protect our future. I think that the Cyber Security Protection Bill helps do just that.”